This is a cute little house jutting out over the Seine. I guess the passage under the house is sort of like having an attached garage: just tie up your boat and take the elevator directly up to your living room. It's got an elevator, doesn't it?
Lunchtime Photo
It's probably an old bulk cargo pier. You have a big barn that you have grain or hay in, you bring in the barge, and drop or lift things in and out of it to serve local farms.
If the elevator's out of order, residents just have to wait for the next high tide.
I think you’re looking at the “elevator” on the end of the building….
Pretty cool though..
Or it might be where the toilet is located.
A hand cranked dumb waiter is used.
Jason Statham had a house like that in one of his movies. He escaped the bad guys who, of course, blew it up
Don't all 17th century houses have elevators?